Eastleigh

Eastleigh's population grew in the 10 years leading up to the latest census. Data from the census show there were changes in religion, housing tenure and work life.

The population reached nearly 130,000

In the decade leading up to the most recent census, the population of Eastleigh increased by 7.8%, from about 116,000 to 125,000.

The addition of about 9,000 people means this area's population increased at a similar rate to the overall population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Eastleigh was home to, on average, 11 people per football pitch-sized piece of land (about 7,140 square metres).

Population density was higher than the average across the South East

Population density (usual residents per 7,140 square metres) across the South East, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Eastleigh

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Eastleigh increased by three years, from 38 to 41 years.

This affluent area had a slightly higher average age than the South East and remained slightly older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of almost 3,900 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by almost 2,000.

About 11% of people in Eastleigh are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Eastleigh by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Eastleigh stood out from other areas for children

In Eastleigh, the proportion went up from 59% in 2001 to 60% in 2011. During the same period, the regional proportion remained close to 62%.

The proportion of households with children in Eastleigh fell from 32% to 30%, while the proportion of households with only adult children living with their parents increased from 9.6% to 9.7%.

The proportion of households without children was lower than across the South East

Percentage of households that without children across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Religion in Eastleigh

The number of people in Eastleigh that described themselves as having no religion increased from about 18,000 in 2001 to just under 36,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 15% to 28% of the local population.

The percentage increased by more than the average across the South East (from 17% to 28%) and the average across England (from 15% to 25%).

The number of people in Eastleigh that described themselves as Christian decreased from just over 89,000 in 2001 to just over 77,000 in 2011 (from 77% to 62%). The number of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation increased from about 7,500 to just under 8,500 (from 6.4% to 6.8%).

About 980 people (0.3%) said they were Muslim, up from just under 360 in 2001 (0.8%).

There are many factors that can cause changes to the religious profile of an area, such as migration and varying fertility rates between religious groups. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population without a religion in Eastleigh increased by 13 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Eastleigh by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of households in Eastleigh that rented privately increased from 5.7% to 12% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

The proportion that lived in social housing remained close to 12%, while the percentage of Eastleigh households that owner their home decreased from 81% to 74%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased here at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 10% in 2001 to 16% in 2011). Across England, the proportion increased from 9.9% to 17%.

Private renting in Eastleigh increased by 6.6 percentage points

Percentage of households in Eastleigh, the South East and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in Eastleigh working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 14% to 10% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just over 1 in 40 (2.8%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 1.9% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 14% in 2001 to 11% in 2011). Across England, the proportion fell from 13% to 10%.

Long hour working in Eastleigh decreased by 4.1 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Eastleigh, the South East and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

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